CU Innovators News

Eight CU ��Ĵ�ý researchers and four startups receive funding through Colorado’s Advanced Industries Accelerator

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 23:21:52 +0000

Eight CU ��Ĵ�ý researchers and four startups receive funding through Colorado’s Advanced Industries Accelerator Daniel Corbin … Tue, 06/02/2026 - 17:21

The Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) has announced that eight ��Ĵ�ý researchers and four university-connected startup companies received funding through the latest round of the Advanced Industries Accelerator Program. The awards, granted through the Proof of Concept and Early-Stage Capital and Retention programs, represent one of the university's strongest performances to date.

The grants support a range of CU ��Ĵ�ý innovations, including gene therapies, augmented reality, aerospace, advanced materials, robotics, AI and regenerative medicine. Statewide, OEDIT awarded nearly $7.5 million to Colorado researchers and companies developing technologies to accelerate and expand Colorado’s advanced-industries economy. CU ��Ĵ�ý startups and researchers will receive a total of $2.2 million.

"CU ��Ĵ�ý’s research enterprise continues to produce discoveries with the potential to address major global challenges, and these awards demonstrate the importance of strategic public investment in helping research breakthroughs achieve their full potential,” said Massimo Ruzzene, senior vice chancellor for research and innovation at CU ��Ĵ�ý. "Programs like the Advanced Industries Accelerator play a critical role in helping transformative technologies move from the laboratory into practical application, delivering tangible benefits to communities in Colorado and beyond."

The Proof of Concept Grant program helps Colorado research institutions accelerate applied research and commercialization activities, while the Early-Stage Capital and Retention Grant supports Colorado companies commercializing innovative technologies that will be manufactured or scaled in Colorado.

Historically, these grants have provided powerful returns to the state, in terms of follow-on investment and company growth, according to Bryn Rees, senior associate vice chancellor for innovation and partnerships at CU ��Ĵ�ý. “Colorado has built one of the strongest environments in the country for translating research into new businesses. OEDIT has been an essential partner in that effort. CU ��Ĵ�ý spinout companies like Forge Nano and OnKure Therapeutics have grown to become publicly traded companies, and for them, early support from the Advanced Industries program was critical. This new round of awards is a great signal of what is to come,” said Rees.

But what is "commercialization?"

The path to commercialization—also known as "research translation" or "tech transfer"—can be challenging, so Venture Partners unites industry partners, entrepreneurs and investors to help researchers, inventors and creators at the University of Colorado bring their groundbreaking discoveries into the marketplace.

Explore the Path to Commercialization

Today, Venture Partners at CU ��Ĵ�ý and the campus’ Center for Translational Research support researchers and startup teams pursuing translational funding—financial support that helps move discoveries and innovations from the research laboratory toward real-world application and commercialization—opportunities, including OEDIT grants, U.S. Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) awards and other translational research programs.

“These funding programs are often catalytic moments for research teams and startup companies,” said Sarah Hughes, director of the Center for Translational Research at CU ��Ĵ�ý. “The Center for Translational Research helps innovators identify opportunities, strengthen commercialization strategies and compete for funding that can accelerate the path from discovery to impact.”

The latest Advanced Industries awards come as CU ��Ĵ�ý continues to demonstrate national leadership in research commercialization and startup formation.

Fourteen of the awardees—including teams from the Colorado School of Mines and CU Denver—participated in the National Science Foundation I-Corps™ customer discovery and commercialization programs offered through CU ��Ĵ�ý. The university is part of NSF I-Corps Hub West, a partnership of 11 research institutions that includes Colorado State University, Colorado School of Mines, University of Southern California and others.

Most recently, Forge Nano announced plans to go public through a $1.6B SPAC deal, making it CU ��Ĵ�ý’s 11th “unicorn” company—a startup valued at $1 billion or more while still privately held. Forge Nano traces part of its early support to funding from OEDIT through a partnership with the CU ��Ĵ�ý that would later become the Lab Venture Challenge. The company commercializes atomic layer deposition nanocoating technology developed at CU ��Ĵ�ý and now produces advanced battery materials and semiconductor manufacturing technologies.

In fiscal year 2024, CU ��Ĵ�ý launched 35 new companies based on university intellectual property, more than any other U.S. campus that year. Commercialization activities through Venture Partners generated an economic impact of $8.7 billion nationally and $5.1 billion in Colorado over the last five years, according to a report from the Leeds School of Business.

The university also recently announced a strategic partnership with Techstars, the global startup accelerator and investor network founded in ��Ĵ�ý, to expand opportunities for founders and further strengthen Colorado’s innovation economy.

The Advanced Industries Accelerator Program received 144 applications during the latest funding cycle, which were reviewed by panels of business, technical and financial experts across Colorado’s advanced industries sectors. Final recommendations were approved by the Economic Development Commission on May 21, 2026. The next application cycle will open July 1, 2026.

CU Proof-of-Concept Grants

��Ĵ�ý, PI Mirela Alistar - ��Ĵ�ý, CO $150,000: Developing a nanorobotic DNA synthesis platform that uses real-time error correction to produce the long genetic templates required for advanced gene therapies.

��Ĵ�ý, PI Christopher Bowman - ��Ĵ�ý, CO $150,000: Developing a photopolymer-based optical materials platform to improve the performance and manufacturing of holographic elements for augmented reality displays.

��Ĵ�ý, PI Xiaoyun Ding - ��Ĵ�ý, CO $150,000: Developing a microfluidic cell-modification platform to improve the manufacturing efficiency and payload capacity of cell and gene therapies.

��Ĵ�ý, PI Timothy Hellickson - ��Ĵ�ý, CO $150,000: Developing a satellite-mounted, space-debris detection system to identify and characterize orbital debris that is too small for conventional radar tracking.

��Ĵ�ý, PI Mija Hubler - ��Ĵ�ý, CO $150,000: Developing a regenerative, biobased tape for the durable repair of cracks in residential, commercial, and municipal concrete infrastructure.

��Ĵ�ý, PI Laila Marzall - ��Ĵ�ý, CO $150,000: Developing an innovative in-band full-duplex analog hardware architecture to enable spectrum-agile wireless communication systems.

��Ĵ�ý, PI Jay McMahon - ��Ĵ�ý, CO $150,000: Developing an artificial intelligence–powered strategic wargaming platform for evaluating complex conflict scenarios in the defense and aerospace sectors.

��Ĵ�ý, PI Stephanie Bryant - ��Ĵ�ý, CO $150,000: Developing a customizable therapeutic platform to restore cartilage and bone in patients with osteoarthritis at any stage of disease progression.

University of Colorado Denver, PI Zhengxiong Li - Denver, CO $150,000: Developing a foundation model platform that enables robots equipped with high-degree-of-freedom anthropomorphic hands to master complex manufacturing and assembly tasks.

CU Early-Stage Capital and Retention Grants

Blue Cubed LLC - Lafayette, CO $250,000: Developing a laser communications terminal designed for seamless interoperability between satellite networks.

Codebreaker Tx Inc. - ��Ĵ�ý, CO $250,000: Developing a genomic data-as-a-service platform that generates high-resolution biological datasets for artificial intelligence-driven research and drug development.

Modendo Inc. - ��Ĵ�ý, CO $250,000: Developing an ultrathin, fiber-based optical probing platform designed for the failure analysis and security evaluation of advanced 3D semiconductor architectures.

Vesicle Therapeutics Inc. - ��Ĵ�ý, CO $250,000: Developing a targeted genetic therapy to treat head and neck cancer by distinguishing between different versions of the same protein.

What can we do together?

Disclose and protect your innovation

Engage in entrepreneurial training programs

Find a mentor to advance your innovation

Get funding for your innovation

Find partners and opportunities for your innovation

Explore investing in and partnering with CU researchers

Explore our startups portfolio

Explore our technology portfolio

The Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) has announced that eight ��Ĵ�ý researchers and four university-connected startup companies received funding through the latest round of the Advanced Industries Accelerator Program. The awards, granted through the Proof of Concept and Early-Stage Capital and Retention programs, represent one of the university's strongest performances to date.

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A powerhouse in battery breakthroughs

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 19:03:01 +0000

A powerhouse in battery breakthroughs Daniel Corbin … Tue, 06/02/2026 - 13:03

Heather Hansen

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Photo: Nick Singstock, CTO and co-founder of new CU ��Ĵ�ý startup Mana Battery holds up a prototype of their new sodium-based battery.

The ��Ĵ�ý is at the cutting edge of battery technology, from groundbreaking research to billion-dollar ventures.

When Tyler Evans (Alum: CU ��Ĵ�ý Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering and Material Science) was applying to PhD programs, he knew he wanted to focus on batteries. “I remember having this impression that batteries were literally a way to bottle up energy and put it in your pocket and use it to do what you wanted, anytime you wanted, and that feels a lot like a superpower,” he said.

That was the start of an exciting era in energy storage, and the race was on to build a better battery that lasted longer, was safer and less expensive. At the time, there were just a handful of universities, including CU ��Ĵ�ý, working on that kind of technology, and Evans was interested in working specifically with Se-Hee Lee (CU ��Ĵ�ý Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering), a pioneer in solid state battery technology who had joined CU ��Ĵ�ý from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (now the National Laboratory of the Rockies) several years earlier.

Photo: Tyler Evans, CEO and co-founder of Mana Battery, alum of CU ��Ĵ�ý CU ��Ĵ�ý Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering and Material Science.

Evans felt an immediate affinity with Lee’s research objectives and lab culture and wanted to join his team. “Because I knew I wanted to study energy storage and new battery technologies, the support I found was instrumental in setting me up not just to be a good battery scientist and technologist but also to look at the world through the lens of application and understand what could be useful for the world.”

Photo: Tyler Evans, CEO and co-founder of Mana Battery, alum of CU ��Ĵ�ý CU ��Ĵ�ý Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering and Material Science.

Photo: Se-Hee Lee (left) and Conrad Stoldt (right) both faculty and researchers in CU ��Ĵ�ý's Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering, in their lab at CU ��Ĵ�ý, using a glovebox. The glovebox is used to handle battery materials in an oxygen- and moisture-free environment, preventing reactions with air and enabling the safe development of next-generation energy technologies.

Soon, Evans was part of the team generating test data that led to grant funding for Solid Power Inc., a company spun out of the university by Se-Hee Lee and Conrad Stoldt (CU ��Ĵ�ý Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering). At the same time, Evans was crossing paths with Doug Campbell—Solid Power’s co-founder and a deep tech startup veteran, then its CEO—and Josh Buettner Garrett, the company’s CTO. Through those interactions, Evans was learning about the commercialization path for university lab innovations. “It felt exciting to be a part of that, to see your work have a pretty immediate and direct impact on a company that was hopefully going to make a real impact in the world,” he said.

Photo: Se-Hee Lee (left) and Conrad Stoldt (right) both faculty and researchers in CU ��Ĵ�ý's Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering, in their lab at CU ��Ĵ�ý, using a glovebox. The glovebox is used to handle battery materials in an oxygen- and moisture-free environment, preventing reactions with air and enabling the safe development of next-generation energy technologies.

Since then, Solid Power has become an industry-leading developer of next-generation all-solid-state battery technology. The company went public in 2021 with major partnership deals with BMW, Ford and Samsung SDI and now has a 75,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Thornton. As a company co-founder, Lee is excited to see Solid Power at the forefront of this technology, and he’s equally gratified that the company has hired many past CU ��Ĵ�ý undergraduate, Master’s and PhD students. “Creating so much opportunity for the younger generation, that’s kind of the most exciting stuff,” said Lee.

“Incredible productivity in battery innovation”

Lee was also the principal investigator (PI) guiding the team that led to the spinout of another company, this one co-founded by Evans and fellow student Daniela Molina Piper (Alum: CU ��Ĵ�ý Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering). That venture was SiILion Inc., which focused on developing high-energy, non-flammable, Li-ion (lithium-ion) systems for solid state batteries. Evans saw a new Li-ion cell technology through prototype and early-pilot demonstrations until 2018, when the company was acquired by Tesla.

Photo: Early prototypes of the Solid Power solid state batteries.

Solid Power and SiILion put CU ��Ĵ�ý on the map for battery breakthroughs, giving the outside world a sense of the high caliber of research coming out of the university, according to Bryn Rees, senior associate vice chancellor for innovation and partnerships. Soon thereafter, in 2020, Michael Marshak (Fmr. CU ��Ĵ�ý Chemistry) founded Otoro Energy Inc. to commercialize a breakthrough flow battery—a rechargeable battery in which electrolyte flows through one or more electrochemical cells from one or more tanks—technology developed in his lab. The company’s patented low-cost electrolyte, licensed from CU ��Ĵ�ý, uses abundant and non-critical minerals, is water-based (pH-neutral), non-corrosive, non-flammable and non-toxic. “We’ve had this incredible productivity in battery innovation at CU. It’s a unique strength that we’ve got here,” said Rees.

Photo: Early prototypes of the Solid Power solid state batteries.

But what is "commercialization?"

Explore the Path to Commercialization

Other prolific university labs have contributed to advancing battery technologies in unexpected and intriguing ways. Take Alan Weimer’s (CU ��Ĵ�ý Chemical and Biological Engineering) lab, where students work at the forefront of innovation in atomic layer deposition (ALD) nanocoating technology. That’s the process of putting down ultra-thin coatings on particles and plastics to improve the performance of new and existing products, including batteries. Researchers on Weimer’s team have shown that, with lithium-ion batteries, ALD can improve performance, extend life cycle and enhance safety in consumer electronics like laptops, cell phones and electric vehicles.

Photo: Factory floor of Forge Nano.

Weimer co-invented the core ALD tech that formed the foundation for an early spinout, ALD NanoSolutions Inc., which merged with Forge Nano Inc. in 2021. Forge Nano was co-founded by Paul Lichty (Alum: CU ��Ĵ�ý Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering and Chemical and Biological Engineering) and Dave King (postdoctoral research assistant) both formerly part of Weimer’s team. Lichty, now Forge Nano’s CEO, developed and patented an idea for scaling up the ALD process, and the company now uses the technology to make scalable nano-coatings for various applications, including batteries, semiconductors, and more. Forge Nano’s proprietary ALD formulation, called “Atomic Armor,” makes batteries’ electrodes better at storing energy. “It's difficult to think of anything else I could have done that would have as big an impact as this company,” Lichty has said.

Photo: Factory floor of Forge Nano.

A photo of the Ban Group, including Tyler Evans (left, furthest back), Chunmei Ban (center right), and Nick Singstock (far right)

Photo: Ban Group, including Tyler Evans (left, furthest back), Chunmei Ban (center right), and Nick Singstock (far right)

An ecosystem of great battery scientists

CU ��Ĵ�ý researchers like Lee, Lichty and Evans have distinguished themselves by taking on the tough challenges inherent in advancing batteries and storage tech, and successfully pushing those innovations out into the world in an unprecedented and meaningful way. “The notion in the field was that battery technology is too hard, and it’s too hard for these companies to successfully raise capital. It’s too hard for them to get partnerships and to commercialize. Yet what we’ve seen at CU ��Ĵ�ý has totally turned that thinking upside down,” said Rees. “These really great research capabilities have translated into super impactful ventures.”

Several factors make CU ��Ĵ�ý a powerhouse for battery innovation, according to Evans. “The Front Range and CU ��Ĵ�ý have a unique confluence of ingredients that have [contributed] to our strong track record of battery technology companies in the last decade or so,” he said. “First, the network of universities, national laboratories and entrepreneurial resources provides a pool of world-class people and creates fertile ground for breakthroughs. Second, the representation of major players in the energy industry and industries that use battery technology… creates pull for new technologies with a focus on building commercial value. And finally, situated at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, the people here have a very direct connection to the environment; we’re intimately linked to the impact of our work.”

Evans is now CEO and co-founder of Mana Battery Inc., a 2023 spinout of Chunmei Ban’s (CU ��Ĵ�ý Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering) lab. Ban, company co-founder and a leading researcher in batteries and battery materials, focuses on next-generation electrochemical materials, specifically sodium and magnesium, to meet the need to improve renewable energy storage systems. Mana Battery is advancing that groundbreaking work by developing sodium-ion batteries that are cheaper, safer and longer-lasting than standard lithium-ion ones.

At a CU ��Ĵ�ý-hosted conference on batteries and storage technology in 2024, Ban commented, “The U.S. has one of the largest sources of soda ash. The reserve is huge, so we have the resources to do something, and I feel it’s the right time,” she said. “We feel confident about our technology, a gigantic market for batteries is already here, and I have a great team.”

At that same meeting, Evans expressed gratitude at being part of the ecosystem of great battery scientists at the university. “CU ��Ĵ�ý has a really impressive track record in the battery space, and Mana is sitting in a place to enable a sodium-ion battery transition; they do everything lithium-ion can do at half the cost, which the grid needs. Batteries have the potential to change the world.”

What can we do together?

Disclose and protect your innovation

Engage in entrepreneurial training programs

Find a mentor to advance your innovation

Get funding for your innovation

Find partners and opportunities for your innovation

Explore investing in and partnering with CU researchers

Explore our startups portfolio

Explore our technology portfolio

The ��Ĵ�ý has emerged as a leading hub for battery innovation, producing breakthrough research and a series of successful startups—including Solid Power, SiILion, Otoro Energy, Forge Nano and Mana Battery—that are advancing safer, cheaper and more effective energy storage technologies. The university’s unique combination of world-class researchers, entrepreneurial support and industry partnerships has helped transform laboratory discoveries into companies with significant economic and societal impact.

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William Penuel, Jun Ye named newest American Academy of Arts & Sciences members

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 18:35:12 +0000

William Penuel, Jun Ye named newest American Academy of Arts & Sciences members Daniel Corbin … Wed, 04/22/2026 - 12:35

CU ��Ĵ�ý Today—The prestigious American Academy of Arts & Sciences has announced its newest members, and they include CU ��Ĵ�ý affiliates William Penuel and Jun Ye.

What could you do with a CU technology?

Venture Partners manages a portfolio of over 1,000 technologies from university investigators and partners with entrepreneurs and companies of all sizes—from startups to the Fortune 500—to bring these inventions to market.

Explore Partnership Opportunities

Turn your discovery into real-world impact

Venture Partners helps researchers, inventors and creators take their groundbreaking discoveries every step of the way, from intellectual property (IP) management to market launch.

More for University Innovators

CU ��Ĵ�ý Today—The prestigious American Academy of Arts & Sciences has announced its newest members, and they include CU ��Ĵ�ý affiliates William Penuel and Jun Ye.

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A simple shot shows promise to reverse osteoarthritis within weeks

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 21:10:40 +0000

A simple shot shows promise to reverse osteoarthritis within weeks Daniel Corbin … Mon, 04/06/2026 - 15:10

A research team including scientists and engineers from the ��Ĵ�ý, University of Colorado Anschutz and Colorado State University has developed a suite of new therapies that prompt aging or damaged joints to repair themselves within weeks, according to animal studies.

The new osteoarthritis treatments include a single, regenerative injection to a joint and a biomaterial repair kit that recruits the body’s own cells to patch holes in damaged cartilage.

To expedite the research, the federal Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) announced this week that the multidisciplinary team will advance to the next phase of the up to $33.5 million project. The project is under the ARPA-H Novel Innovations for Tissue Regeneration in Osteoarthritis (NITRO) program. NITRO is led by ARPA-H Program Manager Dr. Ross Uhrich.

“In two years, we were able to go from a moonshot idea to developing these therapies to demonstrating that they reverse osteoarthritis in animals,” said principal investigator Stephanie Bryant, professor of chemical and biological engineering at CU ��Ĵ�ý. “Our goal is not just to treat pain and halt progression, but to end this disease.”

The team hopes to publish their animal findings in a peer reviewed journal later this year and has formed a company, Renovare Therapeutics Inc. to move toward commercialization.

What could you do with a CU technology?

Venture Partners manages a portfolio of over 1,000 technologies from university investigators and manages licensing partnerships with entrepreneurs and companies of all sizes—from startups to the Fortune 500—to bring these inventions to market. Discover how CU’s solutions can power your next breakthrough.

Explore Opportunities

The New York Times, WIRED, CU ��Ĵ�ý Today—A research team of scientists and engineers from the ��Ĵ�ý, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and Colorado State University has developed a suite of therapies that prompt aging or damaged joints to repair themselves within weeks, according to animal studies. The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) has advanced the up to $33.5M project to its next phase, and the team has formed Renovare Therapeutics Inc. to move toward commercialization.

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Kristi Anseth receives the Biomaterials Global Impact Award

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 15:16:45 +0000

Kristi Anseth receives the Biomaterials Global Impact Award Daniel Corbin … Tue, 03/31/2026 - 09:16

Distinguished Professor Kristi Anseth (CU ��Ĵ�ý Chemical and Biological Engineering) has received the Biomaterials Global Impact Award, which recognizes distinguished research and development accomplishments in the field of biomaterials.

The award will be presented at the 35th Annual Conference of the European Society for Biomaterials in Antwerp, Belgium, from September 7-11, 2026.

Anseth, also the associate faculty director of CU ��Ĵ�ý’s BioFrontiers Institute, designs biomaterials that interact with living tissues to promote repair and regeneration, aiding in healing injuries and diseases. Her lab works with hydrogels—a degradable biomaterial—to deliver molecules at the right time and sequence to accelerate the healing process. Her team is also growing miniaturized versions of heart cells and tissues, known as organoids, to better understand disease mechanisms and explore new types of heart disease treatments, such as to repair heart muscles after heart attacks.

Anseth is also among the select few innovators elected to all three National Academies: Sciences, Engineering and Medicine. Beyond her scientific contributions, she has been recognized with more than 50 major awards and delivered over 60 honorary lectureships worldwide.

What can we do together?

Disclose and protect your innovation

Engage in entrepreneurial training programs

Find a mentor to advance your innovation

Get funding for your innovation

Find partners and opportunities for your innovation

Explore investing in and partnering with CU researchers

Explore our startups portfolio

Explore our technology portfolio

Distinguished Professor Kristi Anseth has received the Biomaterials Global Impact Award, which recognizes distinguished research and development accomplishments in the field of biomaterials.

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Google taps CU ��Ĵ�ý physicist to head up new quantum-computing team in Colorado

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 17:39:53 +0000

Google taps CU ��Ĵ�ý physicist to head up new quantum-computing team in Colorado Daniel Corbin … Mon, 03/30/2026 - 11:39

Google said Tuesday that it is entering the Colorado quantum realm in what seems like a very tiny way: It hired a quantum physicist in ��Ĵ�ý to speed up development of its first quantum computer.

But by adding University of Colorado and federal lab researcher Adam Kaufman, Google is taking a much bigger step in the industry. The company also announced Tuesday that it is expanding into a competing type of quantum computer development based on neutral atoms.

Kaufman, known for his work in controlling neutral atoms, “is one of the key experts in this area,” said Charina Chou, chief operating officer of Google Quantum AI, which has been working for more than a decade to build a quantum computer to tackle the world’s unsolvable problems. Such computers have accelerated computing performance that could lead to improvements to cancer and health treatments, AI accuracy and better tools to address climate change.

What could you do with a CU technology?

Explore Opportunities

The Colorado Sun, BizWest—It’s the company’s first physical entry into the local quantum ecosystem. Adam Kaufman, known for his work in neutral atoms, is also key to Google’s big expansion to develop its first quantum computer faster

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CU ��Ĵ�ý innovators admitted to the Equalize 2026 Cohort

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 17:04:06 +0000

CU ��Ĵ�ý innovators admitted to the Equalize 2026 Cohort Daniel Corbin … Thu, 03/26/2026 - 11:04

More Funding, Training and Networking Opportunities

Discover opportunities and events that foster innovation and entrepreneurship. Venture Partners at CU ��Ĵ�ý offers valuable opportunities to connect, learn and grow. Plus, explore our curated list of opportunities and events outside of the University of Colorado.

Explore Opportunities

Established in 2020, Equalize Startups is a nonprofit program taking national action on the disparity in women academic inventors forming startups from nonprofit research institutions. Equalizers receive education, a field-specific mentor, and access to networks that drive new entrepreneurial connections. They can include faculty, postdocs and graduate students in STEM disciplines.

Their six-month program offers expert training, personalized mentoring, in-person networking and a pitch competition—all designed to help women academic inventors successfully navigate the startup ecosystem.

Innovators with ties to the ��Ĵ�ý will participate in the 2026 cohort.

Jeanne Barthold (Alum, Biomedical Engineering, Paul M. Rady Mechanical Engineering) is co-founder of TissueForm, which has developed a flowable implant made of the protein and extracellular matrix of human cartilage tissue (with all living components removed). It flows into a defect from an injury to immediately replace structure, solidifies into a solid to withstand normal loading, and supports the body’s own cells to attach and initiate a regenerative repair.

Marwa Yacouti (PhD candidate, Ann and H.J. Smead Aerospace Engineering Sciences) is building an AI-powered platform that transforms how materials and structures are designed by predicting performance and degradation throughout the design process. This reduces reliance on costly simulations and unlocks faster development and more resilient engineering systems.

The 2026 cohort also includes Suzhao Li of the University of Colorado Anschutz, who aims to transform AI-designed mini proteins into first-in-class therapeutics with Jingshi Shen (CU ��Ĵ�ý Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology), Charles Dinarello (CU Anschutz Medical Campus) and their new CU ��Ĵ�ý startup, winner of the 2025 LVC.

Explore the Full Cohort

What could you or your business do with a CU technology?

Explore Opportunities

Established in 2020, Equalize Startups is a nonprofit program taking national action on the disparity in women academic inventors forming startups from non-profit research institutions. Innovators with ties to the ��Ĵ�ý will participate in the 2026 cohort.

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CU ��Ĵ�ý biomedical engineering startup brings cancer care technology to the Lab Venture Challenge

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Mon, 02 Mar 2026 18:34:07 +0000

CU ��Ĵ�ý biomedical engineering startup brings cancer care technology to the Lab Venture Challenge Daniel Corbin … Mon, 03/02/2026 - 11:34

CU ��Ĵ�ý College of Engineering & Applied Science—William Frantz didn’t walk away with the top prize at this year’s Lab Venture Challenge (LVC), but his research may still be a winner for future cancer patients. Frantz is developing microscopic droplets designed to help doctors track radiation therapy in real time, technology that could one day make cancer treatment more precise and less harmful, particularly for pediatric patients.

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Professor featured in Colorado Environmental Film Festival documentary

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 17:27:19 +0000

Professor featured in Colorado Environmental Film Festival documentary Daniel Corbin … Fri, 02/20/2026 - 10:27

Women of Carbon, a documentary featuring Mija Hubler, associate professor of structural engineering and structural mechanics, was selected as the opening night film for the Colorado Environmental Film Festival in Golden. The film highlights women transforming the construction industry through sustainable innovation, decarbonization and green technology.

Hubler’s research interests include aging of construction materials, concrete infrastructure design and construction methods and the design of alternative construction materials from biological elements and engineered waste materials. She is a co-founder of Prometheus Materials, a bio-cement startup in Longmont, Colorado.

Read the Full Story

The University of Colorado Connection

Prometheus Materials Inc., which produces a zero-carbon concrete alternative, was co-founded by four faculty members at CU ��Ĵ�ý: Wil Srubar, Sherri Cook, Mija Hubler (CU ��Ĵ�ý Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering) and Jeff Cameron (CU ��Ĵ�ý Biochemistry). With a cross-disciplinary grant from DARPA that funded the underlying inventions, they were interested in forming a startup company and worked with Venture Partners to find a CEO and co-founder. Through the Venture Partners mentor network, they found serial entrepreneur Loren Burnett, and since then, Prometheus Materials has been off to the races! Prometheus is now headquartered in Longmont, CO.

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CU ��Ĵ�ý College of Engineering and Applied Science—Women of Carbon, a documentary featuring Mija Hubler, highlights women transforming the construction industry through sustainable innovation, decarbonization and green technology. Hubler’s research interests include aging of construction materials, concrete infrastructure design and construction methods and the design of alternative construction materials from biological elements and engineered waste materials. She is a co-founder of Prometheus Materials, a bio-cement startup in Longmont, Colorado.

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Three faculty members elected to National Academy of Engineering

Daniel Corbin Leonard — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 17:21:02 +0000

Three faculty members elected to National Academy of Engineering Daniel Corbin … Fri, 02/13/2026 - 10:21

CU ��Ĵ�ý Today—This week, the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) announced that three faculty members at CU ��Ĵ�ý were elected to the ranks of this prestigious organization. Dana Anderson, Iain Boyd and Bob Erickson are among the 130 scientists and engineers from around the country who will be inducted as members of the NAE at a meeting this fall.

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CU Innovators News

Eight CU ���Ĵ�ý researchers and four startups receive funding through Colorado’s Advanced Industries Accelerator

But what is "commercialization?"

CU Proof-of-Concept Grants

CU Early-Stage Capital and Retention Grants

What can we do together?

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A powerhouse in battery breakthroughs

“Incredible productivity in battery innovation”

But what is "commercialization?"

An ecosystem of great battery scientists

What can we do together?

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William Penuel, Jun Ye named newest American Academy of Arts & Sciences members

What could you do with a CU technology?

Turn your discovery into real-world impact

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A simple shot shows promise to reverse osteoarthritis within weeks

What could you do with a CU technology?

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Kristi Anseth receives the Biomaterials Global Impact Award

What can we do together?

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Google taps CU ���Ĵ�ý physicist to head up new quantum-computing team in Colorado

What could you do with a CU technology?

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CU ���Ĵ�ý innovators admitted to the Equalize 2026 Cohort

What could you or your business do with a CU technology?

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CU ���Ĵ�ý biomedical engineering startup brings cancer care technology to the Lab Venture Challenge

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Professor featured in Colorado Environmental Film Festival documentary

The University of Colorado Connection

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Three faculty members elected to National Academy of Engineering

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Eight CU ��Ĵ�ý researchers and four startups receive funding through Colorado’s Advanced Industries Accelerator

Google taps CU ��Ĵ�ý physicist to head up new quantum-computing team in Colorado

CU ��Ĵ�ý innovators admitted to the Equalize 2026 Cohort

CU ��Ĵ�ý biomedical engineering startup brings cancer care technology to the Lab Venture Challenge